Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), despite its name, does not facilitate multistate pharmacy practice, instead requiring pharmacists to pass separate, state-specific law examinations-a process that is increasingly seen as outdated and inefficient. The proposed Uniform MPJE, targeted to launch in 2026, aims to standardize pharmacy law testing nationwide. This article examines the rationale behind the MPJE, questioning the necessity of any pharmacy law examination in an era of technological advancement, evolving regulatory models, and interprofessional parity. With some states already eliminating the MPJE without evidence of public harm, eliminating any law examination may be more aligned with the future of pharmacy practice rather than adopting a new examination.

BackgroundLittle is known of whether Internet use is associated with physical activity among socially isolated older adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study investigated the association between Internet use and physical activity, and whether this association differs depending on social isolation among community-dwelling Japanese older adults.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 1048 community-dwelling residents aged 65–90 years. Data were obtained using a self-reported questionnaire in August 2020. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between Internet use and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).ResultsInternet use showed a significant association with MVPA (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.06–1.90) after adjusting for age, sex, self-reported socioeconomic status, and other health-related characteristics. When the results were stratified by social participation and living status, Internet use was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of MVPA among participants with no social participation (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.03–3.17) and living with family (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.93).ConclusionInternet use was associated with sufficient physical activity, and this association may differ depending on the social isolation among community-dwelling older adults in Japan.

Idaho's Women's Health Check (WHC) Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening to under- and uninsured women via funding from the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Because WHC serves populations with less access to health care, this study evaluated time from breast cancer diagnosis to treatment for women enrolled in the WHC program and linked to Cancer Data Registry of Idaho (CDRI) case data (WHC-linked) and the remainder of female Idaho resident breast cases. Among Idaho residents aged 50-64years diagnosed during 2011-2017 with ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer, we assessed differences in the median time from definitive diagnosis to treatment initiation overall and by demographic and tumor characteristics, and differences in the distribution of demographic and tumor-related variables between 231 WHC-linked and 3,040 non-linked breast cancer cases. WHC-linked cases were significantly less likely to be non-Hispanic white, and more likely to live in poorer census tracts, be diagnosed at a later stage, and be treated with mastectomy. Most WHC-linked (92%) and non-linked women (94%) began treatment within 60days of diagnosis; no differences in time to treatment were observed. Disparities in the interval from definitive diagnosis to breast cancer treatment initiation were not observed for women enrolled in the WHC program relative to other Idaho women.

BackgroundRates of reported early syphilis in Alaska increased over 300% between 2015 and 2018, with cases concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM) that reside in the Anchorage/Mat-Su region. To better understand the epidemic, we surveyed at-risk Alaskan MSM about their syphilis knowledge, attitudes, and practices using a paper- and web-based survey. MSM were recruited through several avenues, including advertisements on two, popular geosocial-networking apps for gay, bisexual, and other MSM. We report on the relative efficiency in recruiting men through two different geosocial-networking apps.MethodsThe geosocial-networking apps (App A and App B) were selected based on key-informant interviews. Identical ad text and imagery promoting the survey ran on each app for two weeks. The total number of times the ads were displayed (impressions), number of times users clicked on an ad (clicks), mean clickthrough rate (CTR; clicks/impressions), and costs for advertising on the two apps were estimated and compared.ResultsApp A had a total of 28,642 impressions, and 904 clicks (daily range: 5–191). The mean CTR for App A was 5.45, at a cost of $0.32/click. App B had a total of 681 impressions, and 57 clicks. The mean CTR for App B was 8.37, at a cost of $12.28/click. Of 119 survey responses, 59 (50%) were online surveys, of which 32 (54%) reported hearing about the survey through the geosocial-networking apps ad.ConclusionRecruiting MSM for surveys and prevention interventions through mobile apps is productive and may be cost-efficient. However, not all apps produce the same results. In our survey, App B was over 38 times more costly per click than App A. Programs should routinely explore the effectiveness and associated costs with utilization of app-based advertising.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

〔目的〕本研究では短期的な介護予防ボランティア活動が高齢者自身の運動機能や身体活動，健康・心理学的特性に与える影響について検討した．〔対象と方法〕シルバーリハビリ体操指導士養成講習会の女性受講生を対象とした．講習会受講前から4週間の受講後，4ヵ月後に身体機能評価，健康心理アセスメントを行った．講習会受講後に指導士としての活動がなかった者を活動なし群（32名），活動があった者を活動あり群（10名）の2群に分けて検討を行った．〔結果〕活動あり群の握力や片脚立位，K6，K-Ⅰにおいて受講前に比べ受講後，4ヵ月後で有意に改善した．活動なし群では握力は受講前に比べ受講後に有意に改善した．〔結語〕高齢者が短期間の介護予防ボランティア活動を行うだけでも，高齢者自身の心身機能が改善する可能性が示唆された．

Objectives Extending health expectancy is important; however, health and welfare programs in local areas and communities present their own issues. This study aimed to identify main diseases requiring severe-level care certification for long-term care insurance based on information gathered from opinion papers prepared by primary doctors.Methods Data were obtained for 4,089 patients aged ≧65 years who were certified for long-term care insurance for the first time between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2015. Their disorders were categorized into the groups used in the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions long-term care questionnaire. The subjects were categorized into "mild" and "severe" groups according to their long-term care insurance levels. Subjects in the severe group were long-term care insurance levels 2-5. The associations with diseases in the two groups were examined using chi-square tests according to gender. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted for those diseases which showed significant associations by chi-square test for the dependent variables after adjusting for age.Results Malignancy was the most frequent disorder in men, whereas joint disease was most frequent in mild group women. In men, there was a significant difference in the frequency of diseases between the mild and severe groups for stroke (P<0.001), malignancy (P<0.001), joint disease (P<0.001), diabetes (P=0.015), fracture and falls (P=0.028), and others (P<0.001) by chi-square tests. In women, there was a significant difference in the frequency of diseases between the mild and severe groups for stroke (P<0.001), malignancy (P<0.001), joint disease (P<0.001), dementia (P<0.001), Parkinson's disease (P=0.003), and others (P<0.001). In men, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that stroke, malignancy, and fracture and falls were significantly and positively associated with severe-level, long-term care insurance, while joint disease and hypertension were negatively associated. In women, stroke, malignancy, dementia, and Parkinson's disease were significantly associated with severe long-term care insurance level, while joint disease and hypertension were negatively associated.Conclusion The main diseases requiring severe-level care in both men and women were stroke and malignancy. These diseases occurred in large numbers among those less than 74 years of age. This finding suggests the importance of preventing lifestyle-related diseases before the age of 65 years in order to avoid requiring nursing care.

Influenza antiviral treatment is recommended for all persons hospitalized with influenza virus infection. During the 2010-2011 influenza season, antiviral treatment of children and adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza declined significantly compared with treatment during the 2009 pandemic (children, 56% vs 77%; adults, 77% vs 82%; both P < .01).

Cryptococcus gattii emerged in North America in 1999 as a human and veterinary pathogen on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The emergent subtype, VGIIa, and the closely related subtype VGIIb can now be found in the United States in Washington, Oregon, and California. We performed multilocus sequence typing and antifungal susceptibility testing on 43 isolates of C. gattii from human patients in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho. In contrast to Vancouver Island, VGIIa was the most frequent but not the predominant subtype in the northwest United States. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed statistically significant differences in MICs between the subtypes. This is the first study to apply antifungal susceptibility testing to C. gattii isolates from the Pacific Northwest and the first to make direct comparisons between subtypes.